Delivering a speech that persuades, it is essential to speak to the audience mind. To speak to the audience mind, you need to know your audience. Make amount of information you appropriate
to the time you have to speak.

Rules of Evidence

Make sure your evidence follows a simple rule. Make sure it is real and not urban legend. A number of what are considered facts have no actual studies to back them up. Make sure you not
only have the actual study, read it and make sure it is relevant and that it is used accurately.

All is Fair In.., Make Sure You Are Too

If presenting the opposing viewpoint, be fair, represent the other views accurately. Statistics can be used to say just about anything. Make sure the statistics are honest and appropriate. In addition to being fair, be sympathetic. Do not insult those who you disagree with. Do not belittle them. Do not put them down.

Commonalities and Differences

The art of persuasion involves both differences and commonalities. Rapport is built on commonalities. Build rapport with your audience and limit the differences to just a few. The few differences is where your persuasion will need to be built around.

One of the ways to build on your commonality is by avoiding I problems. Research found that speaker who used the second or third person pronouns had better performances and reduced the post performance brooding (Journal or Personality and Social Psychology, Dross and Ayduk). Using You or He/She rather than I or me helped with better performance.

Avoid I problems and you will develop more rapport with your audience.

Call to Action

If you want to persuade, do not forget to have a call to action. The audience needs to be invited to take an action. Make it simple, easy and desirable to take that action. With so many demands on our minds and our time, be careful to not ask anything you would not do.

People rarely take proactive steps with out a problem that affects them personally. They will take steps to solve a problem they are experiencing. They will follow a movement when it is underway.

Follow these six steps and you will be on your way to writing a persuasive speech and delivering a speech that accomplishes your job to be done.